Neurometabolites and associations with cognitive deficits in mild cognitive impairment: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 7 Tesla

TitleNeurometabolites and associations with cognitive deficits in mild cognitive impairment: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 7 Tesla
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsOeltzschner G, S Wijtenburg A, Mikkelsen M, Edden RAE, Barker PB, Joo JHui, Leoutsakos J-MS, Rowland LM, Workman CI, Smith GS
JournalNeurobiol Aging
Volume73
Pagination211-218
Date Published2019 Jan
ISSN1558-1497
KeywordsAged, Biomarkers, Cognition, Cognitive Dysfunction, Female, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Glutamates, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Male, Middle Aged
Abstract

The levels of several brain metabolites were investigated in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in 13 healthy controls (HC) and 13 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7T. Levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), glutathione (GSH), N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and myo-inositol (mI) were quantified relative to total creatine (tCr). The effect of diagnosis on metabolite levels, and relationships between metabolite levels and memory and executive function, correcting for age, were investigated. MCI patients showed significantly decreased GABA/tCr (ACC, PCC), Glu/tCr (PCC), and NAA/tCr (PCC), and significantly increased mI/tCr (ACC). In the combined group, worse episodic verbal memory performance was correlated with lower Glu/tCr (PCC), lower NAA/tCr (PCC), and higher mI/tCr (ACC, PCC). Worse verbal fluency performance was correlated with lower GSH/tCr (PCC). In summary, MCI is associated with decreased GABA and Glu, most consistently in the PCC. Further studies in larger patient samples should be undertaken to determine the utility of 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy in detecting MCI-related neurochemical changes.

DOI10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.09.027
Alternate JournalNeurobiol Aging
PubMed ID30390554
PubMed Central IDPMC6294473
Grant ListP30 AG066507 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG041633 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG038893 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P41 EB015909 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH098228 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 EB016089 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR001079 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005146 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 MH100705 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 EB023963 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH106564 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AG060245 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States